Baseball

Deck to Lead Plainsmen Baseball

Sep 18, 2018

Sept. 20, 2018, Sterling, Colo.— Coach Ronnie Deck returns to Northeastern in the fall of 2018 to become the 4th head coach in program history. Deck was an assistant for the Plainsmen in 2007 under Coach Bryan Shepherd, where he also was the sports information director. He most recently served as a coach at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nev. Prior to his time in Nevada, he was the pitching coach for Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich. His experience reaches beyond high school and college with more than eight years working in the major leagues. From 2015 to 2016, he spent two seasons with the Miami Marlins as a bullpen and catching coach. Other professional experience includes working with the Baltimore Orioles as an international scout in Latin America in 2014, and as an instructional league field staff and MLB scouting development program for the Orioles from 2008-2013. In 2006, Deck served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Oglethorpe University, and was the head coach for the 16u Atlanta Blue Jays.

Coach Deck's baseball experience is not limited to coaching, as he also has playing experience in not only college, but professionally as well. Deck played for Oklahoma Christian University, and then continued to play minor league baseball after signing as a free agent. He would play for seven seasons from 1999-2005, reaching the highest as AA with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Deck commented, "Being back at NJC is a true honor. Coach Kachel and I have impossible shoes to fill in following a legend, but I am looking forward to taking on the challenge of upholding everything that Coach Shepherd built here. I believe that Shep, Coach Kachel and I share the same passion; Player relationships and building good people. Northastern is an ideal platform for me to share with players the ups and downs of my journey in baseball in order to help them succeed at the next level and the next phase in their lives. Players should know before they visit that this program is built on four pillars: Selflessness, Hard Work, Energy and Preparation. If a young man is prepared to uphold these standards on a daily basis, then NJC baseball might be for him."

Deck earned his Bachelors in Journalism from Oklahoma Christian University and is currently working on his masters.